Outbreak investigation of foot and mouth disease in Nangarhar province of war-torn Afghanistan, 2014

Afghanistan has long history of ongoing conflicts, resulting in massive destruction of the country’s infrastructure. Illegal trade of livestock between Afghanistan and Pakistan boosted the spread of Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD). Current study was conducted to investigate outbreaks of FMD occurred between April-August 2014 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan. Descriptive data about suspected FMD cases were collected from the Civil Veterinary Hospital, Nangarhar to analyze spatio-temporal pattern of FMD. Case farms (n = 137) were selected from list of clinically confirmed FMD outbreaks available in the hospital. Control farms (n = 137) were enrolled from neighboring premises of case farms. The epidemic curve showed that the virus is continuously circulating among susceptible population. The mean age of the oldest lesion was 2.8 days. Foot & Mouth Disease was more likely to occur in female animals compared to male animals (p < 0.001). Farmers having no ability to clinically recognize FMD (OR 5.8, 95% CI 1.4–23.8); previously having any FMD case in herd (OR 11.8, 95% CI 3.0–45.8), farms where animals leave shed during day (OR 15.4, 95% CI 5.6–42.0), and farms, where neighboring farmers used to visit the premises (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.2–9.9) were identified as risk factors. Current findings may be used to create awareness of concerned veterinary health authorities about FMD control.